PSA members Conley Thimla, Moses Vorster, Nompumelelo Sindi and Francois Clark.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
FOUR Public Servants Association (PSA) members, including two shop stewards, are sitting at home after they were placed on precautionary suspension on April 15 after allegedly staging an “illegal gathering” by sitting in the corridor of the Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture offices in Kimberley from April 10 to 11.
The members - Moses Vorster, Conley Thimla, Nompumelelo Sindi, and Francois Clark - were charged with participating in an unprotected strike, picketing on state premises, staging an illegal gathering, insubordination, contravention of the communications policy, and alleged misconduct.
The suspended employees stated that they did not know the exact reasons for their suspensions.
Vorster believed his suspension was in retaliation for calling for the suspension of officials who were criminally charged in connection with the so-called Umsobomvu “ghost festival”.
He claimed that one of the State witnesses carried a firearm to work for protection.
Thimla said the only reason for his suspension could be that he had represented cleaners who won an arbitration award, which is currently being challenged in the Labour Court.
“I was treated like a criminal and escorted out of the premises by security,” he said.
Clark added that he was forced to stand in the pouring rain after being marched out of the building.
“I didn’t have a chance to remove personal details from my cellphone, such as banking apps, before handing it in - or to collect my belongings,” he said.
He indicated that his suspension came shortly after he informed the department that it could face a R1.5 million fine for failing to comply with the Employment Equity Act.
Sindi stated that she had refused to be relocated to another section due to health reasons.
Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture spokesperson Conrad Fortune said the suspensions followed all due processes and that internal procedures were conducted in line with the relevant legal and governance frameworks.
“As the matter is currently sub judice, the department is not in a position to comment further, particularly on issues relating to individual employees, in order to protect the integrity of the process and the rights of all parties involved,” he added.
Fortune emphasised that disciplinary action was not punitive but intended as a corrective measure.
“The employer has the responsibility to maintain discipline and not to orchestrate any malpractices or dismissals, as alleged by the shop stewards. Disciplinary hearings will determine if the misconduct charges amount to a dismissal.
“As a department, we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency, fairness and accountability,” he stated.
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